- The group debated whether recent “machine-learning + blockchain” projects contain any genuine technical novelty or are simply mechanisms for channeling cryptocurrency into existing AI work such as OpenCog development.  
- A link to NewAE’s “Blockchain” product page (https://store.newae.com/blockchain/) was shared as an example of hardware-level security research that intersects with distributed-ledger ideas.  
- Participants expressed skepticism about distributed-consensus algorithms, labeling some proposals as “poor thinking” while still asking whether any ML-relevant insights might emerge from the space.  
- A brief lookup of “scanning acoustic microscope” was triggered, highlighting interest in high-resolution, non-destructive imaging tools for hardware reverse-engineering and bio-device inspection.